Hanger construction



July 3, 1962 J. B. SHORES HANGER CONSTRUCTION Filed July 6, 1959 INVENTOR.

My M United States Patent Q 3,042,217 HANGER CONSTRUCTION Jerry B. Shores, R.R. 1, Yorktown, Ind. Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,150 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-45 This invention relates to a hanger construction and more particularly to a hanger construction adapted primarily for use in transporting a pair of draperies, curtains or the like.

In the dry cleaning or laundry business, difiiculty is often experienced in transporting cleaned and pressed draperies or curtains to the customer. Because of the weight and length of such items, it is awkward to handle them without causing unsightly wrinkles or creases to be formed.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed in an effort to solve this problem. Such devices, however, because of certain structural characteristics, are beset with one or more of the following shortcomings: (a) the device is weak and delicate and incapable of withstanding abusive handling; (b) the device deforms when subjected to the carrying load and does not maintain the drapery or curtain panels in spaced-apart relation; (c) the device, when suspended from the rack or bar of a delivery truck or wagon, is susceptible of becoming disengaged therefrom due to the sway or vibration of the truck when it is in motion; (d) the device is of bulky and costly construction and is awkward to handle; and (e) the device is not capable of accommodating a variety of sizes of draperies or curtains.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide an improved hanger construction which is not beset with the aforementioned shortcomings.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved hanger construction which is efiective in operation, inexpensive to produce, and may serve the dual function of a garment hanger as well as a hanger for draperies, curtains, or the like.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawing, and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a hanger construction is provided which includes an elongated body in which is formed an elongated opening. Extending laterally from one of the elongated sides of the body is a hook-like member which is adapted to permit suspension of the hanger from a bar, rod, or bracket. The axis of suspension substantially bisects and is normal to the elongated axis of the body opening. Pivotally connected to the opposite elongated side of the body and at substantially the midpoint thereof is an elongated arm. The length of the arm is sufficient to eifect bridging transversely the body opening, when said arm is in one position of pivotal adjustment. The arm, when in such position, forms the body opening into two contiguous sections, one for each curtain or drapery panel. The free end or" the arm is hook-shaped and is adapted to cooperate with the hook-like member of the body.

For a more complete understanding of this invention,

reference should now be made to the drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the improved hanger construction showing the elongated arm thereof in inoperative position;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the elongated arm in operative position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary right side elevational view of the improved hanger shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, an improved hanger construction 10, preferably formed of bent wire mate rial, is shown which is provided with an elongated body portion 11 having a lower elongated side 11a, rounded end portions 11b, and an elongated upper side 110 which 3,042,217 Patented July 3, 1962 is bowed upwardly a slight amount, as shown. The body portion 11 is of a configuration approximating that of the shoulders of a human being. Formed at about midpoint of the lower side 11a is an offset portion 11d, the offset thereof being in a direction toward upper side 11c, as seen more clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body portion 11 delimits an elongated opening 12.

Projecting upwardly from the upper side of the body portion 11 is a hook-like finger 13 which is of a shape suitable for partially encompassing a supporting bar or the like. The shape of finger 113 may vary from that shown so as to more efiectively engage a bar or bracket.

Connected to the lower side 11a of body portion 11 at offset 11d is an elongated arm 14, having one end 14a thereof pivotally connected to recessed portion 11d. Arm 14, when in operative position as shown in FIG. 2, is adapted to bridge the opening 12 so as to divide such opening into a pair of like segments 12a and 12b. The opposite end of arm 14 is provided with :a hook-like finger 14b which, when in the position shown in FIG. 2, is adapted to be in registered relation with respect to the finger 13. As noted in FIG. 3, the hook-like finger 14b of arm 14 is offset a slight amount so as to conveniently be disposed behind finger 13 and thus effect locking of the arm 14 in its operative position. When the arm 14 is in its operative position, the lower side 11a of body portion 11 is supported at its midpoint and thus prevents sagging or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, when the arm 14 is in its operative position, one or more panels 15 of draperies or curtains may be inserted through opening segments 12a or 12b and then folded over lower side 11a, as shown. Because of upwardly extending arm 14, there is no possibility of the panel or panels disposed within one segment becoming mixed with the panel or panels disposed in segment 12b, notwithstanding the fact that the hanger may be subjected to abusive handling.

When arm 14 is in either operative or inoperative position, the hanger may be used to support a garment 16 in the conventional manner.

While the improved hanger is shown formed of bent wire material, it is to be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to such a construction; for example, the body portion may be formed of a heavy plastic or paper sheet material suitable for carrying the necessary load which would be encountered when carrying one or more pairs of draperies or curtains. In addition, the length of the body portion may be varied as desired.

While a particular embodiment of this invention is shown above, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising an elongated bent wire body delimiting an elongated opening, one elongated side of said body being provided with a laterally extending hook-like member for effecting suspension of said body, the axis of suspension substantially bisecting the longitudinal axis of said opening and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto, the opposite elongated side of said body being provided with an offset at substantially its midpoint, the direction of said offset being toward said first-mentioned elongated side, and an elongated wire arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to said second-mentioned elongated side at said offset and the other end bent to form a hook; said arm, when in one position of pivotal adjustment, bridging said elongated opening and having said hook end in registered relation with respect to said hook-like member.

3 2. A device of the class described, comprising an elongated bent wire body delimiting an elongated opening, one elongated side of said body being provided with a laterally outwardly extending hook-like member for ef fecting suspension of said body, the axis of suspension substantially bisecting the longitudinal axis of said opening and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto, and an elongated narrow wire arm having one end thereof pivotally connected to substantially the midpoint of the opposite elongated side of said body, the other end of said arm being bent to conform substantially to the configuration of said hook-like member; said arm, when 4 in one position of pivotal adjustment, bridging said elongated opening and having said other end in registered relation with respect to said hook-like member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 828,491 Lokyitch Aug. 14, 1906 1,636,972 Ward et al. July 26, 1927 2,449,868 Waldman Sept. 21, 1948 2,580,044 Raiche Dec. 25, 1951 2,614,735 Williams Oct. 21, 1952 2,736,474 Janik Feb. 28, 1956 

